How life has changed in Chelmsford

Chelmsford's population increased by about 11,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the most notable changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 170,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Chelmsford increased by 7.2%, from about 157,000 to 168,000.

The addition of about 11,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Chelmsford was home to, on average, 3.5 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Chelmsford

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Chelmsford increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 5,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 11.0% of people in Chelmsford are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Chelmsford by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Chelmsford

Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation in Chelmsford, the largest percentage point increase was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.6 points between 2001 and 2011. The census question about religion is voluntary, so varying response rates mean caution is needed when comparing figures between different areas or between censuses.

In 2011, 30.3% of respondents in Chelmsford said they had no religion, up from 17.7% in 2001.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of respondents who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18.2% to 30.0%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Around 66.6% of respondents in Chelmsford said they were Christian, down from 80.4% in 2001. About 1.3% said they were Muslim, up from 0.7% a decade prior.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Chelmsford increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, East and Chelmsford by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Chelmsford

The percentage of Chelmsford residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.2% to 2.8% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.4%, while the percentage of Chelmsford residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 90.1%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Chelmsford that rented privately increased from 6.7% to 12.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that lived in social housing remained close to 12.9%, while the percentage of Chelmsford households that owned their home decreased from 78.3% to 73.2%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 14.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Chelmsford increased by 5.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Chelmsford, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Chelmsford

The percentage of single people in Chelmsford increased from 27.8% to 31.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in two (51.6%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 55.5% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Chelmsford that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11.0%.

The proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 27.4% in 2001 to 31.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30.5% to 34.9%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Chelmsford working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15.2% to 11.9% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 14.7% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Chelmsford decreased by 3.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Chelmsford, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Chelmsford residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.1% to 3.7% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84.9%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73.9% in 2001. The percentage of Chelmsford residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.0% to 11.4%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Chelmsford decreased by 2.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Chelmsford, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Chelmsford, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.4% to 10.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that had only one person remained close to 27.4%, while the percentage of households in Chelmsford which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 42.5% to 38.8%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.8% in 2001 to 10.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Chelmsford

In 2011, 3.0% of Chelmsford residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 1.5% in 2001. The 1.4 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.8% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 93.9% of people in Chelmsford said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 96.7% in 2001. About 1.6% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.9% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.6% to 1.2%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or relocating for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Chelmsford increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Chelmsford by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Chelmsford residents that were unemployed increased from 2.1% to 3.4% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57.1%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 58.2% in 2001. The percentage of Chelmsford residents that were self-employed increased from 9.0% to 10.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Chelmsford increased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Chelmsford, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Chelmsford with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.8% to 10.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (29.3%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 29.8% in 2001. The percentage of households in Chelmsford without children remained close to 60.3%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 9.3% in 2001 to 9.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Chelmsford residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 1 in 50 (1.8%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Chelmsford remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Chelmsford by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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